Filing device for account-slips, &amp;c.



. o. W. ZIMMER. FILING DEVICE POR ACCOUNT SLIPS, w.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI'- 2, 1910.

1 ,048,023. i Patented Deo. 24, 1912.

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UNITED ,STATES IP ATENT ,y

CONRAD ZIMMER, or EUEEALO, NEW YORK.

FILING DEVICE FOR ACCOUNT-SLIPS, &c. i

I Specification of Letters Patent.

by store keepers rfor filing account or sale slips. Filing devices of this general'character, usually comprise a case, a plurality of vertically swinging lleaves arranged in the case and adapted to be turned, and clips or holders arranged on the leaves and adapted to hold the account slips.

One of the objects of this invention .is to provide simple, eiicient and inexpensive .means whereby the leaves when inuse are y supportedvin the case, so that vthey are spaced comparatively far apart and permit of freely turning the same for exposing different ac* counts, while uponremovlng these leavesA from the case the same may becompacted or ystacked closer together and thus occupy less 'y room in a safe which receives the same.

Another object oflmy invention is to so mount the leaves ina oase that the same fwill ralways yoccupy a central position in the 'same and not be liable Vto bind orbecome displaced while turning the leaves forward or backward.

vMy invention hasthe further object to so construct the leaves yand pivotally support the same that a comparatively large number of such leaves may be placed in a given Y rsized case and still permit these leaves to be readily shifted relativelyA to each other without interference.

In the accompanyingy drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a filing device embodying my invention, the section being taken in line 1 1, Fig. 2 but showing some of the leaves in an upwardly turned position and somein a downwardly turned position. Fig. 2ris atop plan view of the filing device showing all lof the leavesin a downwardly turned position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section ofseveral of theleaves in an upright positionl and showing their pivoted `ends spaced comparatively far apart as they would be while inthe case. Fig.y l is a side elevation ofk a `plurality of leaves and the flexible connecting memberr on one side of i the same showing the leaves stacked or Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout thek vseveral The case formingr the support ofk my im-` proved iling device comprises two upright Patented Dee. 24; 1912. Application filed June 2, 1910. Serial No.' 564,*5662,

longitudinal side pieces or walls A, A, an i upright rear wall or back B, an inclined bottom C 'arranged between the sidepieces and extending from therear wall downwardly toward thefrontedgesof the side walls, and a vertically swinging frontV wall D which is pivoted at its lower 'end vto the lower front end of the'inclined bottom and adapted to be swung either intokr an upright position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig.` 1, so as to serve as a lid for covering and protecting w the leaves, or into a horizontal forwardly projecting position, asshownvrby full linesr`4 i 1n Fig. 1', which the leaves ar'euncovered andthe front wallserves as a desk on which the account slips may be writtenl out. If

desired, this case maybe ymounted on top of abase which contains a drawere yfor holding money or for vother purposes. Each of the leaves F 's preferably constructed of a sheet of metal and is provided on itsfrontI and rear sides with a pluralityof clips f of any suitable constructionwhereby the account slipsof different customers 1 may be yfastened ink batches or piles on the fiat sides of these leaves in a manner common to this typeof filing devices. f

At its opposite longitudinal edges each leaf is provided withy binding or stiffening means which not only strengthen the leaf and keep the same'in shape but also operate as spacers for keeping the fiat surfaces of adjacent leaves out vofcontact from each other." Each of. these I binders preferably consists of ka stripyor. bar G of wood provided with a klongitudinal groove on its inner side in which the adjacent longitudinal edge of one of the leaves issecured by meansof nails g, asshown in` FigsQ and 5, or by any other suitable means.

- At its lower or rear edge each leaf is se# vcured toa horizontal pintle or pvot rod H i which extends transversely acrossr the'fcase,`

above the inclined bottom thereof. The leafV is preferably secured toits pintle or pivot' rod'by providing the lower or rear end of the leaf with a curl or sleeve 71 which rei 'n ceives the central part of said pintle. This curl is so constructed that in the upright position of the leaf the same projects tangentially upward from the front side of the pintle. Then the leaves are stacked in an upright position in the case with their lower ends supported next to the inclined bottom of the case, each leaf is arranged somewhat below the leaf next in rear of the same. 'By connecting the lower end of each leaf tangentially with the front side of its pintle it is possible to stack the several leaves much closer while in an upright position in the case, inasmuch as the Vpintle of each leaf is arranged below and in line with the leaf next in rear of the same, as shown in Fig. 8.

The opposite ends of the pintle or pivot rods of the several leaves are connected by two iexible connecting members I which are arranged parallel with each other and on opposite sides of the leaves above the bottom of the case. Each of these flexible connecting members is preferably constructed in the form of a chain each link of which is composed of two side bars e' arranged close. together at one end of the link, while at the other end they are separated or spread apart, and receive between them the closely arranged ends of the bars of an adjacent link. The closely arranged ends Of the bars of each link are provided with openings or circular perforations while the opposite ends of these bars are provided with longitudinal slots 7c. The adjacent spread ends of one link and the contracted ends of an adjacent link are pivotally connected with each other and with the adjacent end of one of the, leaves by extending the end of the pintle of the respective leaf through the longitudinal slots of one of these links and the circular opening of the other link. The two links of the connecting member which cooperate with each end of a pintle may be held against longitudinal movement thereon by any suitable means but preferably by reducing the end portion Z of the pint-le which passes through the links so as to form an inner shoulder m which bears against the inner side of the spread end of one of the links, and a screw nut m1 applied to the threaded outer end of said reduced part Z and forming an outer shoulder which bears against the outer side of the spread part of the respective link. This screw nut may be prevented from becoming loose or detached from the pintle by riveting the outer end of the latter or` by any other suitable means.

F or the purpose of preventing the pintles "and connecting members from unduly wearing the parts of the bottom and side walls with which these members engage, these parts are protected by metal wearing strips n, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

At their lower or front ends the connecting members are free or unattached to the case but at their upper or rear ends the same are connected with the front ends of two Suspenders 0 which are connected at their upper ends to the bottom of the case by screws 01 or otherwise and thus serve to hold the connecting members and the leaves` pivotally mounted thereon in position on the bottom.

Owing to the suspension of the connecting members at their upper ends the weight of the leaves and associated parts causes the same to slide down the inclined bottom and always hold the connecting` members taut while at the same time permitting the connecting members to be deiiected upwardly upon turning any leaf from an uprightto a reclining position and to automatically take up the slack in the connecting members when the leaf is restored to its upright position.

The Suspenders preferably consist of chains or similar flexible members and are permanently connected with the bottom but are detachably connected with the connecting members so as to permit the latter and the leaves to be removed from the case and placed in a safe for greater security when the filing device is not in use. This detachable connection preferably consists of hooks p arranged at the lower ends of the Suspenders 0 and engaging with eyes or links 791 on the pintle of the rearmost leaf,

shown in Figs. l and 2.

For the purpose of causing the leaves to always hang in a central position in the case the Suspenders are secured to the case so that they incline in opposite directions. 1n the preferred arrangement, shown in Fig. 2, the Suspenders converge upwardly and are secured at their upper ends to the bottom of the case at point-s inwardly from the line of the connecting members, where by the weight of the leaves and connecting parts causes the same to constantly tend to assume a central position in the case, thereby avoiding undue rubbing of the connecting members against the side walls of the case and prevent-ing interfering with the free movement of the leaves.

Upon detaching the Suspenders from the connecting members the latter together with the leaves may be removed from the case and pressed together more compactly than they are in the case so that they take up less room when placed in a safe or vault. This contracting of the leaves for storage or expanding for facilitating use of the same is possible owing to the slotted connection between the several links of each connecting member and the pintles or pivot rods of the leaves.

By passing each pintle at its opposite ends through openings in a link of each connecting member the corresponding links of both coming cramped and bound, thereby permitting free and easy'manipulation of the leaves lat all times. I claim as my invention:

1. A filing device comprising a support,

n a pair of flexible connecting members arranged on said support, suspending rmembers connected at their lower ends with the up per ends of the connecting members while their upper ends are connected with said support so that the suspendingmembers yinoline in opposite directions, and leaves connected with the. connecting members.

, 2. A filing device comprising a support, a pair of flexible connecting members arranged on Vsaid support, suspending members detachably connectedr` at their lower ends with the upper ends of the connecting membersk while their upper ends are connected with said support so that thesuspending members incline in oppositedirections, and

ranged parallel on said support, a pair of upwardly converging suspending members v' connected at their lower ends with said connecting members while their upper ends are connected with saidsupport, and leaves connectedwith the connecting members.

4. A filing device ycomprising a support, 'a ,n

pair of connecting members arranged parallel on said support and each having apluf ralityof links each of which is provided at one end with a circular opening and at its opposite end with a longitudinal slot, pintles or rods each arranged in the opening of one link and the slot or" an adjacent link, and leaves connected withsaid pintles.

5. A filing device comprising a support, ka pair of connecting members arranged parallely on said support and'each having a plurality of links each of which consists of two longitudinal bars arranged close together 4at one end of the link, while at the otherv end they are separated or spread apart, and receive between them the closely arranged ends of the bars of an adjacent link, pintles connecting adjacent links, and leaves connected with said pintles. v

`Witness my hand this 31st day of May n CONRAD W. ZIMMER.

W itnesses:

THEO. L. Porr, yANNA Hitlers.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

